Anri­Zhorzh Zhann; 1877-1942 was a French writer and author of a number of detective novels; quite popular at the beginning of the century, but then firmly (and in our opinion, completely undeservedly) forgotten. The novel being published is exactly a century old; it is the author's literary debut, which took place back in 1912, and his only book translated into Russian. The writer's talent can be judged by the skill and subtle humor with which he plays out the classic situation with the brutal murder of a rich gentleman, whose mutilated corpse is found on the railroad tracks. The originality of this seemingly banal investigation lies in the fact that it is conducted by an amateur - a young clerk, Antonin Bonassou, who lived on the same landing as the famous private detective, Paddy Velgon. Having taken on the responsibility of receiving all visitors who came to the detective during his absence, he once could not resist the temptation to "play detective" a little and began investigating the above-mentioned case, which led to completely unpredictable consequences.